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Homeless Education Updates

School of Origin and Awaiting Foster Care

Fall, 2015Office for the Education of

Homeless Children and Youth

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Homeless Education Updates

•School of Origin•Awaiting Foster Care•How does this work? Scenarios

•Ground Rule – Please, no specific cases during the webinar.

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McKinney-Vento Homeless EducationAssistance Act of 2002

Title X Part C No Child Left Behind, 2002

Sec 722 (g)(3)(G) SCHOOL OF ORIGIN DEFINED-in this paragraph, the

term school of origin means the school that the child or youth attended when permanently housed or the school in which the child or youth was last enrolled.

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McKinney-Vento Homeless EducationAssistance Act of 2002

Title X Part C No Child Left Behind, 2002

Sec 725 DefinitionsThe terms enrolled and enrollment include

attending classes and fully participating in school activities.

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This means:

• Students are still homeless• Students are still covered by McKinney-Vento

– Including immediate local enrollment– Free lunch– Full participation in all school activities– New school becomes the school of origin

• Families are being split across districts• Loss of educational continuity

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Any questions regarding the school of origin?

Please raise your hand.

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ESE Advisory 2015-9Children in State Care or Custody

This Advisory defines “Awaiting Foster Care”

Students who are awaiting foster care are in• shelter placements such as STARR beds or TCUs

and • other placements with the intent of moving them

within 90 days.

This advisory is posted on our webpage.

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This means:

• Children in placements that are there as long as they need them are not awaiting foster care but may be covered by Fostering Connections.

• A child who has been awaiting foster care for more than 90 days is considered “formally homeless”.– Right to remain enroll thru June– Transportation is up to the parent/guardian

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Any questions on Awaiting Foster Care?

Please raise your hand.

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How does this work? Scenario 1In August 2014 the family’s home was foreclosed

and they were taken in by friends in Malden where the children enrolled in school.

In January 2015 the family sought shelter and was placed in a Danvers hotel. The children in grades 5 and 8 continued to attend their K-8 school in Malden. Their 10th grade sibling continued to attend Malden High School. Transportation was provided to both schools.

What are their schools of origin?What are the children’s enrollment options now?

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How does this work? Scenario 2Over the summer the family was evicted from their

home in Southbridge and have been taken in by grandparents in Oxford. They have two children. The oldest is a second grader and the youngest is excited to start kindergarten this year.

Where is the school of origin for the 2nd grader? Kindergartener?

What are their options?Do the options change if the youngest has an IEP?

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How does this work? Scenario 3Sam was removed from his home on a care and

protection order (C&P) a year ago and placed briefly with his aunt and then in a foster home in Amherst where he attended school. In June the foster mother became sick and could no longer care for Sam. He was placed in a Springfield STARR bed on June 26th.

Is he covered by McKinney-Vento?What is his school of origin?What are his options?

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How does this work?

Scenario 4Lori was a 7th grader in Hopkinton last year with

chronic attendance problems that lead to a CRA and eventually to placement in a DCF STARR bed in Framingham in March. Lori remained enrolled in Hopkinton thru June and is still there.

Is Lori covered by McKinney-Vento?What are her options?Do her options change if the caseworker says she

hopes Lori will be back home in October?

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Questions?